DIII: Late goal downs Cabrini at Haverford College, 9-8

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Haverford junior midfielder Jason Leeds’ goal with 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter broke an 8-8 stalemate and eventually stood as the game winner as the 10th-ranked Black Squirrels held off the 12th-ranked Cabrini men’s lacrosse team, 9-8, Saturday at Swan Field. Senior attackman Casey Grugan totaled a team-high four points for the Cavaliers in the loss.

Grugan’s first goal of the game at the 11:15 mark of the opening quarter extended his NCAA Division III record of consecutive games with at least one tally to 56 and tied the Division I standard owned by Syracuse University’s Tom Marechek and Johns Hopkins University’s Terry Riordan.

Grugan also extended his consecutive game streak with at least one point to 59, the nation’s longest active streak among Divison III players. He finished the game with three goals and one assist.

Grugan has recorded 245 career points in 59 games played and needs just 12 more to become the Cavaliers’ all-time leader. Former Cavalier Scott Reimer (2006-09) owns the program record with 256.

Junior attackman Paul Skulski notched two points on two goals. Skulski becomes Cabrini’s 15th player in team history to reach the 100-point plateau for his career. He has posted 101 career points on 54 goals and 47 assists in 40 games with the Cavaliers.

Freshman attackman Bobby Thorp also totaled two points on two scores. Junior attackman Jordan Coeyman added one point on a single tally.

The Cavaliers won the battle at the face-off X (15-for-21) behind junior draw specialists Mike Gurenlian and Joe Strain. Gurenlian won 9-of-13 attempts, while Strain went 6-for-8.

Zarzecki made his second straight start in goal, posting 14 saves.

After the opening 30 minutes played even at 4-4, the Black Squirrels jumped out to a two-goal advantage, 6-4, less than three minutes into the third quarter.

Cabrini responded with four unanswered goals and secured an 8-6 cushion with 11:22 remaining in the final period. Coeyman triggered the streak with his fourth goal of the season. Grugan netted his third goal of the game at the 13:04 mark before Thorp capped the run less than two minutes later.

Junior attackman Max Hjelm pulled Haverford within one score with 7:10 remaining before tying the contest with 4:13 left on the clock. Leeds added the go-ahead tally three minutes following.

Gurenlian won the ensuing face-off, but the Cavaliers could not get a clean look at the cage in their final possession. The loss is Cabrini’s first against its local rival in the last five outings.

Hjelm led the Black Squirrels attack with five points on four goals and one assist. Junior midfielder Travis Gregory posted four points, pairing three goals with one assist.

Haverford sophomore goalkeeper Joe Banno made 13 stops.

Cabrini (1-1) plays its second of three straight on the road Wednesday, March 3 at non-conference foe Hampden-Sydney College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.